Blue passionflower

Sun

Full sun for best flowering; tolerates light partial shade. Choose a warm, sheltered position in cooler climates.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Keep container compost evenly moist but never waterlogged.

Soil

Well-drained soil of average fertility; tolerates chalk, loam and sandy soil. Avoid winter-wet ground and excessive nitrogen.

Height

10-30 ft (3-9 m)

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m), potentially wider through suckering

Flowers

Summer into autumn; white petals with blue, purple and white crown filaments surrounding prominent central structures.

Foliage

Glossy, dark green leaves, usually divided into five narrow lobes; evergreen in mild climates and semi-evergreen or deciduous in colder areas.

Growth

Fast once established

Care needed

Medium

• Provide sturdy trellis, wires or mesh, and tie young shoots in until their tendrils grip.
• Water deeply through the first growing season and during extended drought; check containers frequently in warm weather.
• Apply a light balanced feed in spring only if growth is weak; heavy feeding encourages leaves rather than flowers.
• Mulch the root area before winter in colder districts, keeping mulch away from the main stem.
• Remove unwanted root suckers promptly and keep shoots clear of gutters, shrubs and small trees.

Pruning. In spring, after the worst frost risk has passed, remove dead or frost-damaged growth and shorten wayward shoots to healthy buds. Thin congested stems and shorten side shoots as needed; flowers develop on the current season's growth.

Spring

Prune winter damage once healthy buds reveal which stems have survived.

Spring

Plant after severe frost risk has passed, water thoroughly and provide climbing support.

Late spring

Tie in new shoots and apply a light feed if the plant is growing poorly.

Summer

Water during dry spells, guide new growth and remove unwanted suckers.

Autumn

Collect fallen fruit where seedlings are unwanted and check that supports remain secure.

Late autumn

Mulch roots in colder gardens and move containers into a bright, frost-free shelter where winters exceed its tolerance.

• Train over a sunny wall or fence to provide summer flowers and leafy screening.
• Cover a sturdy pergola or arch for seasonal shade, allowing access for pruning.
• Grow on a dedicated trellis behind lavender and shrubby salvias in a sheltered Mediterranean-style border.
• Train a container-grown plant up wires in a courtyard where its spread can be managed and winter shelter is available.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Modern courtyard, Cottage garden, Tropical, Coastal and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rosemary, Shrubby salvias, Catmint and Agapanthus.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other large pollinating insects. Dense growth offers shelter, and some birds eat the ripe fruit and may disperse its seeds.

• Frost dieback: choose a sheltered wall, mulch the roots and wait until spring growth appears before removing apparently dead stems.
• Poor flowering: increase sunlight and reduce nitrogen-rich feeding; avoid repeatedly clipping off new flowering growth.
• Red spider mites under cover: inspect leaf undersides, rinse foliage regularly and use an appropriate biological control in a greenhouse.
• Waterlogging and root rot: improve drainage, avoid standing pots in water and let the surface of container compost begin to dry between waterings.

Leaves, stems and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic compounds and should be treated as potentially poisonous to people, cats, dogs and horses. Chewing or eating substantial amounts can cause serious poisoning, although species-specific reports in pets are limited. Ripe fruit pulp is generally regarded as edible but bland; do not assume other plant parts or unripe fruit are safe. Seek medical or veterinary advice after suspected ingestion.

Where it spreads. Can spread by root suckers and bird-dispersed seed. It is an environmental weed in parts of Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, and is invasive in parts of New Zealand. Check local weed guidance before planting near bushland or other natural areas.

• Purple passionfruit (Passiflora edulis)

  Usually has three-lobed leaves rather than five-lobed leaves, and its ripe fruit is purple or yellow rather than orange. It needs warmer winters.

• Maypop (Passiflora incarnata)

  Usually has three-lobed leaves and lavender-purple flowers with a more frilly crown. It is a herbaceous vine that dies back each winter and produces yellow-green ripe fruit.

• White passionflower (Passiflora subpeltata)

  Has predominantly white flowers and three-lobed leaves rather than the blue-banded flowers and usually five-lobed leaves of blue passionflower.

Passiflora refers to the flower structures historically interpreted as symbols of Christ's Passion, while caerulea means blue.

Propagation. Take softwood cuttings in late spring or semi-ripe cuttings in summer, or layer a low stem. Rooted suckers can be lifted in spring. Seed germination can be slow and irregular, and seedlings may differ from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Passiflora caerulea

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bolivia, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast and Paraguay.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.